After writing Carson’s birth story (of epic length) there were a few little details I wanted to add for your benefit and, let’s face it, amusement. Hard work can actually be pretty funny. As I moved through transition and headed towards the pushing stage, the pressure (read: pain) really started to intensify. As it came time…
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Warning: This is a birth story. I will be discussing birth. Words and images associated with birth are to be expected. If you get squeamish thinking about a cervix, you probably should skip this one! (Also, if you’re wanting to get to the ‘good stuff’, skip down to Afternoon.) *Update* Read a different perspective of our birth story at RedeemingChildbirth.com!…
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I never thought I’d settle. Who does, right? Settling sounds awful. Like you just…gave up. You didn’t go on. You lost the fight. You know, you settled. I never expected that I would end up calling my tiny college town home. Never expected that I would marry young. Never expected that I would become a mom so young. Never…
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2013 will forever be known as the “Fastest Year Of My Life.” The year kicked off with a wedding, bringing with it all those newlywed joys and complexities. Just a few months later the announcement of a baby on the way really spiced things up. On top of these pretty major developments, the general pace…
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Today, I turn 24. Here are 24 things I’ve learned since 1989. Know when to stop. To stop talking, to stop listening, to stop running. Reality may not be better than your expectations, but it will be better for you. Rest is not a four letter word. Well, it is – but you know what I…
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As I jot these few words, our little girl is due to appear in less than a month. This journey that began so unexpectedly is going to culminate in just a few weeks’ time. Then, another journey will begin. During these last days of “just us two”, Ben and I are caught between peaceful waiting…
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A true story that happened one chilly December day in Purdy’s Coffee Company. Dear Kind Coffee Lady, I didn’t expect this 5th trip to the ladies’ would be any different than the previous four. You looked so engaged in your work as I walked past, scribbling notes on the papers sprawled in front of you. When…
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My dad was recently cleaning up his computer files and found my admissions essay to Harvard College. I haven’t so much as looked at the essay since 2008, when I applied. Attending Harvard was a tightly held dream of mine since 8th grade. My senior year of high school I did apply and was interviewed,…
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Colder weather calls for chili. And chili calls for ingredients like garlic and cumin and meat. And ingredients call for cooks who can whip them together. And that’s where I run into trouble. Recently, I was asked to bring a pot of chili to a church get-together. Not a difficult request or an especially stressful…
Read MoreOne of the most treasured seasons in my life was the semester I studied abroad in Scotland. Why? Among other reasons, I think it was the first time I’d ever felt completely free and uninhibited. It certainly was the first time I’d ever seen a long-held dream realized. I was given the gift of exploration.…
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